CMWU prepares for the winter season amid forecasts of heavy rain, by reviewing capabilities and providing pumps and spare parts for each branch.
CMWU Prepares for the Winter Season Amid Forecasts of Heavy Rain This Season
CMWU - Gaza
CMWU has begun its preparations for the winter season amid forecasts of heavy rain this year, with its preparations beginning by holding a meeting at its main headquarters in Gaza, including the directors of the Utility's branch offices and engineers, to review the measures implemented in preparation for the winter season and assess the capabilities available to the Utility and the needs required to receive the rainy season at each of the Utility's branches, and discuss the mechanisms of coordination and cooperation between the emergency committees formed by CMWU at the branch level, and between them and the municipalities, to facilitate communication, coordination, and intervention processes as soon as any emergency occurs.
Eng. Monther Shoblaq affirmed, at the beginning of the meeting, the necessity of putting in place appropriate mechanisms to deal with heavy rain and how to confront the risks that may result from it by benefiting from the experiences of previous years, developing preparedness plans, and working to provide and increase the capabilities, materials, and equipment necessary for this, and making further efforts by everyone to protect residents from any potential damage, God forbid.
Shoblaq pointed, during his remarks, to the projects implemented by the Utility alone or in cooperation with the municipalities to collect and benefit from rainwater, such as the rainwater collection pond project in Rafah and rainwater collection lines in Khan Younis and other areas, and noted the delay in completing other projects such as the Al-Amal pond project in Khan Younis and the Sheikh Radwan pond rehabilitation project, due to the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the difficulty of bringing in the materials and equipment necessary to implement them.
During the meeting, Eng. Omar Shatat, Director of the Technical Department at CMWU, presented the capabilities available to the Utility in terms of mobile pumps, spare parts, diesel, and other supplies to deal with emergencies during rainfall, and asked the area directors to determine their needs according to the circumstances of each area and identify the necessary measures to prepare to deal with emergencies so that the Utility can provide the necessary assistance.
Eng. Shatat pointed out that the Utility had managed to obtain funding from some donor institutions for numerous pumps and other supplies necessary for the winter season since the end of last winter season, but the closure of crossings prevented their entry, and that we must deal with emergencies with the capabilities available to us at present while waiting for their entry, and also affirmed the importance of raising the level of coordination between emergency teams to quickly deal with any emergency and coordinating with the electricity distribution company, especially regarding operating sewage plants and pumps.
During the meeting, the area directors at CMWU presented the capabilities available in each area and its necessary needs and the routine procedures being worked on, of cleaning and maintenance works for rainwater drainage lines, collection ponds, and pumping stations.
